Lens drive device

ABSTRACT

A lens drive device may include a thrust direction stopper mechanism which includes a thrust movement preventing abutting part of the movable body and a thrust movement preventing abutted part of the fixed body for restricting a moving range toward an object side of the movable body, and a radial direction stopper mechanism which includes a radial movement preventing abutting part of the movable body and a radial movement preventing abutted part of the fixed body for restricting a moving range in a radial direction of the movable body. The moving range in the radial direction under an inclined posture of the movable body with respect to an optic axis is restricted over all directions by the radial direction stopper mechanism and the thrust direction stopper mechanism.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present invention claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 to JapaneseApplication No. 2008-228802 filed Sep. 5, 2008, the entire contents ofwhich are incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

At least an embodiment of the present invention may relate to a lensdrive device in which a coil is held on a movable body having a lens.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A lens drive device which is mounted on a cell phone with a camera or adigital camera includes a fixed body, a movable body having a lens, amagnetic drive mechanism for magnetically driving the movable body in anoptical axis direction of the lens, and a spring member which isconnected between the fixed body and the movable body. The movable bodyis driven in the optical axis direction by utilizing a thrust force ofthe magnetic drive mechanism and an urging force of the spring member.

In the lens drive device, when the movable body is largely shifted inthe optical axis direction (thrust direction) or in the radial directiondue to an impact from outside, the spring member may be largely deformedand plastic deformation or the like may occur in the spring member.

In order to prevent this problem, a thrust direction stopper mechanismis structured between the movable body and the fixed body so that amoving range toward an object to be photographed side of the movablebody is restricted by abutting of a thrust movement preventing abuttingpart of the movable body with a thrust movement preventing abutted partof the fixed body, and a radial direction stopper mechanism isstructured between the movable body and the fixed body so that a movingrange in a radial direction of the movable body is restricted byabutting of a radial movement preventing abutting part of the movablebody with a radial movement preventing abutted part of the fixed body(see Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2007-94235).

In the lens drive device, an impact from outside causes the movable bodyto displace in an obliquely inclined direction in addition todisplacements in the thrust direction and the radial direction and, insome cases, the movable body may occur in the combined displacements.

However, in the conventional lens drive device, displacement in theradial direction under an obliquely inclined state of the movable bodyis not taken into consideration and thus the spring member may belargely deformed to incur plastic deformation. Further, when the movablebody is shifted in the radial direction under an obliquely inclinedstate, an object side end part of the movable body may be caught by alight transmission opening formed in the top plate part to cause themovable body to be unable to return to its original state.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the problems described above, at least an embodiment of thepresent invention may advantageously provide a lens drive device inwhich, even when the movable body is displaced due to an impact fromoutside, large deformation of the spring member and catching of themovable body by the light transmission opening are surely prevented.

According to at least an embodiment of the present invention, there maybe provided a lens drive device including a fixed body, a movable bodyhaving a lens, a magnetic drive mechanism which includes a magnetdisposed on the fixed body and a coil disposed on the movable body formagnetically driving the movable body in a lens optical axis direction,and a spring member which connects the movable body with the fixed body.The fixed body is provided with a top plate part for covering themovable body on an object to be photographed side and the top plate partis formed with a light transmission opening through which light isincident to the lens. The lens drive device further includes a thrustdirection stopper mechanism which includes a thrust movement preventingabutting part of the movable body and a thrust movement preventingabutted part of the fixed body between the movable body and the fixedbody for restricting a moving range toward the object to be photographedside of the movable body by abutting the thrust movement preventingabutting part with the thrust movement preventing abutted part, and aradial direction stopper mechanism which includes a radial movementpreventing abutting part of the movable body and a radial movementpreventing abutted part of the fixed body between the movable body andthe fixed body for restricting a moving range in a radial direction ofthe movable body by abutting the radial movement preventing abuttingpart with the radial movement preventing abutted part. The thrustdirection stopper mechanism and the radial direction stopper mechanismare provided with one of a structure continuously formed along an entirecircumference and a structure formed at plural places in acircumferential direction; and the moving range in the radial directionunder an inclined posture of the movable body with respect to an opticaxis is restricted over all directions by the radial direction stoppermechanism and the thrust direction stopper mechanism.

In the embodiment of the present invention, the thrust direction stoppermechanism and the radial direction stopper mechanism are provided withone of a structure continuously formed along an entire circumference anda structure formed at plural places in a circumferential direction.Therefore, even when the movable body is shifted in any direction in theradial direction under an inclined posture with respect to the opticaxis, the moving range is restricted over all directions by the radialdirection stopper mechanism and the thrust direction stopper mechanism.Accordingly, even when the movable body is shifted in the radialdirection due to an impact from the outside under an obliquely inclinedstate, the spring member is not deformed largely and thus the springmember can be surely prevented from occurring plastic deformation.Further, even when the movable body is shifted in the radial directionunder the obliquely inclined state, the object side end part of themovable body can be surely prevented from being caught by the lighttransmission opening formed in the top plate part.

In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the radialmovement preventing abutted part is provided with a dimension in whichthe radial movement preventing abutting part is capable of abutting withthe radial movement preventing abutted part over all moving range in thethrust direction of the movable body. According to this structure, evenwhen the movable body is located at any position in the thrustdirection, the moving range in the radial direction is restricted evenin a case that the movable body is obliquely inclined with respect tothe optic axis.

In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the fixedbody includes a base which is disposed on an imaging element side endpart, the base is provided with four or more radial movement preventingabutted parts formed of a protruded part which is protruded toward theobject to be photographed side in the circumferential direction, and theradial movement preventing abutted part is provided with a protrudingdimension in which the radial movement preventing abutting part iscapable of abutting with the radial movement preventing abutted partover all the moving range in the thrust direction of the movable body.

In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the thrustmovement preventing abutting part is formed on an object side end faceof the movable body in a circular or substantially circular shape havinga larger diameter than the light transmission opening when viewed fromthe object side, and the thrust movement preventing abutted part isformed of a portion surrounding the light transmission opening in thetop plate part.

In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the springmember is provided with a fixed body side connecting part which is heldby the fixed body, a movable body side connecting part which is formedin a ring shape and connected with the movable body, and an arm partwhich connects the movable body side connecting part with the fixed bodyside connecting part, and the thrust movement preventing abutting partis disposed at an object side position with respect to the spring memberin a circular or substantially circular shape having a smaller outerdiameter dimension than an inner diameter dimension of the movable bodyside connecting part of the spring member. According to this structure,even when the movable body is inclined with respect to the optic axis,the spring member is not abutted with the top plate part and thusexcessive deformation of the spring member is prevented.

In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the radialmovement preventing abutting part is formed at plural separatedpositions in the optical axis direction. According to this structure,under an inclined posture of the movable body with respect to the opticaxis, even when the movable body is further shifted in the inclinedradial direction or, even when the movable body is shifted in theopposite radial direction, its moving range is surely restricted.

In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, two radialmovement preventing abutting parts which are adjacent to each other inthe optical axis direction are protruded in the radial direction fromthe movable body to structure a winding part of the coil on an outerperipheral face of the movable body. For example, when the coil iscomprised of a first coil and a second coil which are separately woundaround in an optical axis direction, two radial movement preventingabutting parts are structured at separated positions in the optical axisdirection by means of that the protruded parts are formed to structurewinding parts of the first coil and the second coil.

In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the fixedbody includes a base which is disposed on an imaging element side endpart and a yoke which is fitted on the object side of the base, and theradial movement preventing abutted part is formed by the yoke.Specifically, the fixed body includes a base which is disposed on animaging element side end part and a yoke which is fitted on the objectto be photographed side of the base, the movable body includes a sleeveformed in a cylindrical shape, the coil of the magnetic drive mechanismis wound around an outer peripheral face of the sleeve, the magnet iscomprised of four magnets which face the outer peripheral face of thecoil, the yoke is formed in a substantially rectangular parallelepipedshape and provided with the top plate part and side plate parts, thefour magnets are fixed to four corner portions of an inner peripheralface of the side plate parts of the yoke in a separated state in acircumferential direction, and the radial movement preventing abuttingpart is a protruded part which is protruded in a radial direction fromthe outer peripheral face of the sleeve to structure a winding part ofthe coil. In this case, it may be structured that, when the sleeve isdisplaced in the radial direction, displacement in the radial directionof the sleeve is restricted by abutting of the protruded partstructuring the winding part of the coil with the side plate part of theyoke.

Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from thefollowing detailed description, taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings that illustrate, by way of example, variousfeatures of embodiments of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments will now be described, by way of example only, withreference to the accompanying drawings which are meant to be exemplary,not limiting, and wherein like elements are numbered alike in severalFigures, in which:

FIG. 1( a) is an outward appearance view showing a lens drive device inaccordance with an embodiment of the present invention which is viewedfrom obliquely above, and FIG. 1( b) is its exploded perspective view.

FIG. 2( a) is an outward appearance view showing a lens drive device inaccordance with an embodiment of the present invention which is viewedfrom obliquely above in another direction, FIG. 2( b) is a perspectiveview showing a yoke, FIG. 2( c) is a plan view showing a protruded partof a yoke for soldering which is to be soldered with a ground terminal,and FIG. 2( d) is a plan view showing a modified example of a protrudedpart for soldering.

FIG. 3( a) is a perspective view showing a lens drive device inaccordance with an embodiment of the present invention in which a yokeand a spacer are detached, FIG. 3( b) is a perspective view showing itslens drive device which is viewed from another direction, and FIG. 3( c)is a perspective view showing a movable body.

FIG. 4( a) is an exploded perspective view showing a terminal structurein a lens drive device in accordance with an embodiment of the presentinvention, and FIG. 4( b) is a perspective view showing a state where aterminal is attached to a holder.

FIGS. 5( a), 5(b) and 5(c) are front views showing a connectionstructure of a ground terminal with a yoke in a lens drive device inaccordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 6( a), 6(b) and 6(c) are perspective views showing a connectionstructure of a ground terminal with a yoke in a lens drive device inaccordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7( a) is a longitudinal sectional view showing a lens drive devicein accordance with an embodiment of the present invention which is cutat a position passing through a ground terminal, and FIG. 7( b) is itslongitudinal sectional view which is cut at a position passing through apower supply terminal.

FIG. 8 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a lens drive device inaccordance with an embodiment of the present invention which is cut at aposition passing through its diagonal line.

FIG. 9( a) is a plan view showing a yoke in a lens drive device inaccordance with an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 9( b) is aplan view showing a sleeve which is used in a movable body, and FIG. 9(c) is a plan view showing a positional relationship between a lighttransmission opening of a yoke and a sleeve.

FIG. 10( a) is a longitudinal sectional view schematically showing astate where a movable body is located at a reference position in a lensdrive device in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention,FIG. 10( b) is a longitudinal sectional view schematically showing astate where the movable body is shifted in a direction opposite to aninclined direction in a posture that the movable body has been inclined,and FIG. 10( c) is a longitudinal sectional view schematically showing astate where the movable body is shifted in the same direction as theinclined direction in a posture that the movable body has been inclined.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below withreference to the accompanying drawings. A lens drive device which willbe described below is capable of being mounted on various electronicapparatuses in addition to a cell phone with a camera. For example, thelens drive device may be mounted on a thin-type digital camera, a PHS, aPDA, a bar code reader, a monitoring camera, a camera for rearconfirmation in a car, a door having optical authentication function orthe like or any other device.

FIG. 1( a) is an outward appearance view showing a lens drive device inaccordance with an embodiment of the present invention which is viewedfrom obliquely above, and FIG. 1( b) is its exploded perspective view.FIG. 2( a) is an outward appearance view showing a lens drive device inaccordance with an embodiment of the present invention which is viewedfrom obliquely above in another direction, FIG. 2( b) is a perspectiveview showing a yoke, FIG. 2( c) is a plan view showing a protruded partof a yoke for soldering which is to be soldered with a ground terminal,and FIG. 2( d) is a plan view showing a modified example of a protrudedpart for soldering. FIG. 3( a) is a perspective view showing a lensdrive device in accordance with an embodiment of the present inventionin which a yoke and a spacer are detached, FIG. 3( b) is a perspectiveview showing its lens drive device which is viewed from anotherdirection, and FIG. 3( c) is a perspective view showing a movable body3. FIG. 4( a) is an exploded perspective view showing a terminalstructure in a lens drive device in accordance with an embodiment of thepresent invention, and FIG. 4( b) is a perspective view showing a statewhere a terminal is attached to a holder.

In FIGS. 1( a), 1(b) and FIG. 2( a), a lens drive device 1 in thisembodiment is structured so that a lens 36 and a diaphragm are movedalong an optical axis direction “L” (lens optical axis direction/thrustdirection) in both of an “A”-direction (front side) toward an object tobe photographed (object side) and a “B”-direction (rear side) toward anopposite side (image side) to the object to be photographed in a thincamera which is used in a cell phone with a camera or the like. The lensdrive device 1 is formed in a substantially rectangular parallelepipedshape. The lens drive device 1 includes a movable body 3, which isprovided with a cylindrical lens holder 30 generally having one orplural pieces of lenses 36 and a fixed diaphragm in its inside, amagnetic drive mechanism 5 for moving the movable body 3 along theoptical axis direction “L”, and a fixed body 2 on which the magneticdrive mechanism 5, the movable body 3 and the like are mounted. Themovable body 3 includes a sleeve 13 formed in a cylindrical shape andthe lens holder 30 in a cylindrical shape is fixed on its inside.Therefore, an outward shape of the movable body 3 is determined by thesleeve 13 and formed in a roughly circular cylindrical shape.

The fixed body 2 includes a holder 19 (base) made of a rectangular resinplate for holding an imaging element (not shown) on an image side, andincludes a box-shaped yoke 18 and a rectangular frame-shaped spacer 11on the object to be photographed side. The yoke 18 is structured of aferromagnetic plate such as a steel plate. As described below, togetherwith a magnet 17, the yoke 18 structures an interlinkage magnetic fieldgenerating body 4 for generating an interlinkage magnetic field in afirst coil 31 and a second coil 32 which are held by the sleeve 13. Theyoke 18 is also used as a shield member.

As shown in FIG. 1( b) and FIGS. 3( a), 3(b) and 3(c), the magneticdrive mechanism 5 includes the first coil 31 and the second coil 32,which are wound around an outer peripheral face of the sleeve 13 so asto be divided in the optical axis direction, and the interlinkagemagnetic field generating body 4 for generating an interlinkage magneticfield in the first coil 31 and the second coil 32. The magnetic drivemechanism 5 is structured of the first coil 31, the second coil 32 andthe interlinkage magnetic field generating body 4. The interlinkagemagnetic field generating body 4 includes four magnets 17 and the yoke18 which are faced with the first coil 31 and the second coil 32 ontheir outer peripheral sides.

Each of the four magnets 17 is formed in a roughly triangular prismshape and the four magnets 17 are fixed at four corner portions of theinner peripheral face of the yoke 18, which is formed in a substantiallyrectangular parallelepiped shape, in a separated state in thecircumferential direction. In a case that the magnet 17 is divided anddisposed at four corners as described above, even when a space betweenthe yoke 18 and the sleeve 13 becomes narrow at a center portion of aside part of the yoke 18, the magnet 17 is prevented from being providedwith a very thin portion and thus the strength of the magnet 17 isenhanced. Further, a magnetic force of the magnet 17 can be efficientlyapplied to the first coil 31 and the second coil 32 which are mounted onthe movable body 3. In addition, since spaces at the four cornersbetween the movable body 3 and the yoke 18 are efficiently utilized asan arrangement space of the magnet 17, the entire size of the lens drivedevice 1 can be reduced.

In this embodiment, each of four magnets 17 is divided into two piecesin the optical axis direction “L” and is magnetized so that its insideface and its outside face are magnetized to be different from eachother. The four magnets 17 are, for example, magnetized so that insidefaces of their upper half portions are magnetized to be an “N”-pole andtheir outside faces are magnetized to be an “S”-pole, and are magnetizedso that inside faces of their lower half portions are magnetized to bean “S”-pole and their outside faces are magnetized to be an “N”-pole.Therefore, winding directions of a coil wire of the first coil 31 andthe second coil 32, which are comprised of one wire but divided in theoptical axis direction, are opposite to each other.

In the movable body 3, an outer peripheral face of an end part on theimaging element side of the sleeve 13 is formed with four protrudedparts 136 a, 136 b, 136 c and 136 d in the circumferential direction.Further, an outer peripheral face at a roughly intermediate position inthe thrust direction of the sleeve 13 is also formed with four protrudedparts 137 a, 137 b, 137 c and 137 d in the circumferential direction. Inaddition, an outer peripheral face of an object side end part of thesleeve 13 is formed with a protruded part 138 which is in a roughly ringshape over the entire circumference. In this manner, the outerperipheral face of the sleeve 13 is formed with a winding part for thefirst coil 31 by using the protruded parts 136 a, 136 b, 136 c and 136 dand the protruded parts 137 a, 137 b, 137 c and 137 d, and a windingpart for the second coil 32 by using the protruded part 138 and theprotruded parts 137 a, 137 b, 137 c and 137 d.

As shown in FIGS. 1( a) and 1(b), the yoke 18 is a drawing workedproduct made of metal whose thickness is about 150 μm. The yoke 18 isprovided with a rectangular top plate part 185 which covers the movablebody 3 on the object side, and four side plate parts 181, 182, 183 and184 which surround the first coil 31 and the second coil 32 on the outerperipheral side. The yoke 18 is provided with a function for reducingleakage flux from magnetic paths which are structured between the magnet17 and the first coil 31 and the second coil 32. According to thisstructure, linearity between a moving amount of the movable body 3 andan electric current supplied to the first coil 31 and the second coil 32can be improved. A circular light transmission opening 180 is formed atthe center of the top plate part 185 of the yoke 18 for taking lightinto the lens 36 from an object to be photographed.

In this embodiment, the yoke 18 is also utilized as a shield memberwhich covers the movable body 3 and the magnetic drive mechanism 5. Theyoke 18 is mounted in the state where the imaging element side end parts187 of the side plate parts 181, 182, 183 and 184 are abutted with aface on the object to be photographed side of the holder 19. Therefore,the yoke 18 is mounted on the face of the holder 19 located on theobject side as a reference and the reference face of the holder 19determines the positions in the optical axis direction “L” of the magnet17 and the like and the entire dimension of the lens drive device 1.

As shown in FIG. 1( b), FIGS. 3( a) and 3(b) and FIGS. 4( a) and 4(b),the lens drive device 1 in this embodiment includes a first springmember 14 x and a second spring member 14 y which are disposed betweenthe holder 19 and the sleeve 13 (imaging element side) and between thespacer 11 and the sleeve 13 (object to be photographed side) so that themovable body 3 is connected with the fixed body 2. Each of the firstspring member 14 x and the second spring member 14 y is made of metalsuch as beryllium copper or SUS steel material and is formed by means ofthat a thin plate whose thickness is about 80 μm is performed by pressworking or etching processing using photo lithography technique.Further, each of the first spring member 14 x and the second springmember 14 y is provided with four fixed body side connecting parts 143,which are disposed on outer sides and held by the fixed body 2, acircular ring frame-shaped movable body side connecting part 144, whichis disposed on an inner side and connected with the end part of thesleeve 13, and four arm parts 145 which connect the fixed body sideconnecting parts 143 with the movable body side connecting part 144.

The first spring member 14 x is connected with the holder 19 and thesleeve 13 and the movable body 3 is set to be in a supported state bythe fixed body 2 so as to be capable of moving along the optical axis ofthe lens 36. The second spring member 14 y is connected with the spacer11 and the sleeve 13 and the movable body 3 is set to be in a supportedstate by the fixed body 2 so as to be capable of moving along theoptical axis of the lens 36.

As shown in FIGS. 4( a) and 4(b), the first spring member 14 x which isdisposed on the holder 19 side is divided into two pieces, i.e., twospring pieces 14 a and 14 b. Two end parts (winding start and windingend) of the first coil 31 and the second coil 32 are connected with thespring pieces 14 a and 14 b. Therefore, the first spring member 14 x(spring pieces 14 a and 14 b) functions as a power supply member to thefirst coil 31 and the second coil 32.

The spring pieces 14 a and 14 b may be applied with bending work anddrawn to outside of the fixed body 2 to be utilized to electricallyconnect with the outside. However, in this embodiment, power supplyterminals 12 x and 12 y separated from the spring pieces 14 a and 14 band the yoke 18 are used and fixed to the holder 19.

A face on the object to be photographed side of the holder 19 is formedat four corners with small protruded parts 192 extending toward theobject to be photographed side. The small protruded parts 192 of theholder 19 are used to hold the first spring member 14 x. Further, theface on the object side of the holder 19 is formed with column-shapedprotruded parts 196 which are protruded toward the object side at plurallocations in the circumferential direction. The column-shaped protrudedparts 196 are used as magnet support parts which support end faces onthe imaging element side of the magnets 17. In this embodiment, thecolumn-shaped protruded parts 196 are disposed to face each other acrosscenter portions of sides of the holder 19 to be utilized as radialmovement preventing abutted parts as described below.

In FIGS. 1( a) and 1(b), the spacer 11 is attached to an inside face ofthe top plate part 185 of the yoke 18 and the spacer 11 is formed atfour corners with triangular spring pressing parts 112 which areprotruded toward the imaging element side. The spring pressing part 112holds the fixed body side connecting part 143 of the second springmember 14 y between the end face on the object side of the magnet 17 andthe spring pressing part 112.

As shown in FIGS. 1( a) and 1(b), FIG. 3( b) and FIGS. 4( a) and 4(b),two power supply terminals 12 x and 12 y are protruded outside from theyoke 18 in the lens drive device 1 in this embodiment. The power supplyterminals 12 x and 12 y are structured of different structural membersfrom the spring member 14 x and the yoke 18, and they are made by pressworking of a metal plate whose thickness is about 200 μm. Each of thetwo power supply terminals 12 x and 12 y is provided with a plate-likepart 121, which is extended in the optical axis direction “L” along aside wall face 191 of the holder 19, an inside connecting terminal part122, which is bent from an upper end part of the plate-like part 121toward inside of the yoke 18, and an outside connecting terminal part123 which is bent from a lower end part of the plate-like part 121toward an opposite side (outside) to the inside connecting terminal part122. The power supply terminals 12 x and 12 y are drawn toward outsidefrom portions on the object side of the holder 19 on which the imagingelement side end part 187 of the yoke 18 is superposed. The plate-likepart 121 is formed with a circular opening 121 a. A small protruded part191 a which is protruded from the side wall face 191 of the holder 19 isfitted into the opening 121 a. The plate-like part 121 is fitted into agroove 191 e formed on the side wall face 191 of the holder 19. Theinside connecting terminal parts 122 of the power supply terminals 12 xand 12 y are connected with end parts 147 of the first spring member 14x by soldering.

A corner part on the object side face of the holder 19 is formed with arecessed part 194 at an overlapped portion with the inside connectingterminal parts 122 of the power supply terminals 12 x and 12 y. A faceof a bottom part of the recessed part 194 supports a face of the insideconnecting terminal part 122, which is located on an opposite side tothe object to be photographed side (face on the imaging element side),as a power supply terminal support part 194 a. Further, the yoke 18 isformed with cut-out parts 181 a on the imaging element side end part 187of the side plate part 181. Therefore, a gap space “G21” is formedbetween the object side face of the end part 147 of the spring member 14x and the imaging element side end part 187 of the yoke 18. Accordingly,the power supply terminals 12 x and 12 y do not form an unnecessary gapspace between abutting portions of the holder 19 and the yoke 18.Therefore, even when the yoke 18 is superposed on the holder 19 with theholder 19 as a reference, the entire size of the lens drive device 1 isnot affected.

FIGS. 5( a), 5(b) and 5(c) are front views showing a connectionstructure of the ground terminal 12 z with the yoke 18 in the lens drivedevice 1 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. FIG.5( a) is a front view showing the ground terminal 12 z in the lens drivedevice 1 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, FIG.5( b) is a front view showing a state where the yoke 18 is detached, andFIG. 5( c) is a front view showing the holder 19 in a state where theground terminal 12 z is detached. FIGS. 6( a), 6(b) and 6(c) areperspective views showing a connection structure of the ground terminal12 z with the yoke 18 in the lens drive device 1 in accordance with anembodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6( a) is a perspective viewshowing the ground terminal 12 z in the lens drive device 1 inaccordance with an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 6( b) is aperspective view showing a state where the yoke 18 is detached, and FIG.6( c) is a perspective view showing the holder 19 in a state where theground terminal 12 z is detached. FIG. 7( a) is a longitudinal sectionalview showing the lens drive device 1 in accordance with an embodiment ofthe present invention which is cut at a position passing through theground terminal 12 z, and FIG. 7( b) is its longitudinal sectional viewwhich is cut at a position passing through the power supply terminal 12x.

In FIGS. 2( a) and 2(b), FIG. 3( a), FIGS. 4( a) and 4(b), FIGS. 5( a),5(b) and 5(c), FIGS. 6( a), 6(b) and 6(c) and FIG. 7( a), the lens drivedevice 1 in this embodiment utilizes the yoke 18 as a shield member forpreventing electromagnetic noises from penetrating inside from outsideor from being transmitted outside from inside. Therefore, one piece ofthe ground terminal 12 z is protruded outside from the yoke 18 and theground terminal 12 z is electrically connected with the yoke 18. Theground terminal 12 z is, similarly to the power supply terminals 12 xand 12 y, structured of a different structural member from the springmember 14 x and the yoke 18, and the ground terminal 12 z is formed of aworked metal plate whose thickness is different from those of the springmember 14 x and the yoke 18. For example, the ground terminal 12 z isthicker than the spring member 14 x and the yoke 18, and is, forexample, formed by means of that a metal plate whose thickness is about200 μm is bent by press working. Further, the ground terminal 12 z andthe yoke 18 are performed with surface treatment so as to be easilysoldered. The ground terminal 12 z is structured similarly to the powersupply terminals 12 x and 12 y.

In this embodiment, the ground terminal 12 z is provided with aplate-like part 126, which is extended in the optical axis direction “L”along the side wall face 191 of the holder 19, a yoke connectingterminal part 127, which is bent from an upper end part of theplate-like part 126 toward inside of the yoke 18, and an outsideconnecting terminal part 128 which is bent from a lower end part of theplate-like part 126 toward an opposite side (outside of the yoke 18) tothe yoke connecting terminal part 127. The ground terminal 12 z is drawntoward outside from a part of overlapped portion of the imaging elementside end part 187 of the yoke 18 and the object side face of the holder19. The plate-like part 126 is fitted to a groove 191 c which is formedon the side wall face 191 of the holder 19.

A side part on the object side face of the holder 19 is formed with arecessed part 195 at an overlapped portion with the yoke connectingterminal part 127 of the ground terminal 12 z. A face of a bottom partof the recessed part 195 supports a face of the yoke connecting terminalpart 127, which is located on an opposite side to the object to bephotographed side (face on the imaging element side), as a groundterminal support part 195 a. On the other hand, a cut-out part is notformed in the imaging element side end part 187 of the side plate part183 of the yoke 18. However, a depth dimension of the recessed part 195is larger than a thickness dimension of the yoke connecting terminalpart 127 and thus a gap space “G22” is formed between the object sideface of the ground terminal 12 z and the imaging element side end part187 of the yoke 18.

The object side face of the yoke connecting terminal part 127 of theground terminal 12 z is connected with an outer face of the side platepart 183 of the yoke 18 by soldering, welding or the like. In thisembodiment, the side plate part 183 of the yoke 18 is formed with aprotruded part 188 for soldering so as to overlap the yoke connectingterminal part 127 on the object side and the protruded part 188 and theyoke connecting terminal part 127 are connected with each other bysoldering. According to this structure, in comparison with a case thatthe yoke connecting terminal part 127 is soldered to a flat plateportion of the side plate part 183 of the yoke 18, since the protrudedpart 188 for soldering is formed, a soldering area between the protrudedpart 188 and the yoke connecting terminal part 127 becomes larger.Further, in this embodiment, both of the ground terminal 12 z and theyoke 18 are soldered at portions other than a fracture face and thussoldering work is easily and surely performed in comparison with a casethat a fracture face is soldered.

As shown in FIG. 2( c), the protruded part 188 for soldering isprotruded in a roughly rectangular shape from the side plate part 183 ofthe yoke 18. Both end parts of the protruded part 188 in thelongitudinal direction are curved and connected with the outer face ofthe side plate part 183. In accordance with an embodiment of the presentinvention, as shown in FIG. 2( d), cut-out parts 188 a may be formed torecess deeply at both end parts of the protruded part 188 for solderingand the tip end part 188 b may be projected laterally. In this case,heat capacity becomes smaller. Therefore, soldering work of the yokeconnecting terminal part 127 with the protruded part 188 for solderingis easily and surely performed.

In this embodiment, the side wall face 191 of the holder 19 is protrudedfurther outer side from the side plate part 183 of the yoke 18 as aterminal fixing part. Therefore, the ground terminal support part 195 ais protruded further outer side from the side plate part 183 of the yoke18. Accordingly, soldering portion of the protruded part 188 to the yokeconnecting terminal part 127 is located on further outer side of theside plate part 183 of the yoke 18. As a result, since the solderingportion of the protruded part 188 to the connecting terminal part 127are located apart from the magnets 17, the magnets 17 are notdeteriorated due to heat at the time of soldering. In other words, inthis embodiment, the ground terminal 12 z is disposed at a separatedposition in the circumferential direction from two magnets 17, which arefixed in the separated state at the corner portions of the yoke 18, sothat heat at the time of soldering of the ground terminal 12 z does notaffect the magnets 17. In addition, in this embodiment, the solderingportion between the protruded part 188 and the yoke connecting terminalpart 127 is located apart from the magnets 17 and thus the magnets 17can be surely prevented from deteriorating due to heat at the time ofsoldering.

In FIGS. 2( a) and 2(b), FIGS. 4( a) and 4(b), FIGS. 5( a), 5(b) and5(c), FIGS. 6( a), 6(b) and 6(c) and FIG. 7( a), the plate-like part 126of the ground terminal 12 z is formed with a semicircular-shaped opening129 whose inner diameter is about 0.8 mm. The opening 129 is formed sothat a side located on the soldering portion (overlapped portion of theyoke connecting terminal part 127 with the protruded part 188 of theyoke 18) is a straight part 129 a and that an opposite side to thesoldering portion is a circular arc-shaped part 129 b. According to thisstructure, when the yoke connecting terminal part 127 is to be solderedwith the protruded part 188 for soldering, heat of solder is hard to betransmitted toward the tip end side of the ground terminal 12 z and thusspreading region of the solder is restricted. Therefore, solderingbetween the yoke connecting terminal part 127 and the protruded part 188can be performed surely.

After the yoke connecting terminal part 127 and the protruded part 188of the yoke 18 have been soldered with each other, an adhesive 120 isfilled to the inside of the opening 129. As a result, the groundterminal 12 z and the holder 19 are adhesively fixed to each other bythe adhesive 120 in the opening 129.

The holder 19 is formed with a protruded part 197 protruding toward theobject side at a position adjacent and inside in the radial direction ofthe recessed part 195. The protruded part 197 is located on an innerside in the radial direction of the gap space “G22” which is formedbetween the object side face of the yoke connecting terminal part 127and the imaging element side end part 187 of the yoke 18. The protrudedpart 197 is also formed at positions corresponding to three other sidesof the holder 19. In this embodiment, the protruded parts 197 arelocated on outer sides in the radial direction of the imaging elementside end part of the movable body 3 (sleeve 13) and overlapped with theprotruded parts 136 a, 136 b, 136 c and 136 d which are protruded fromthe sleeve 13 toward outer sides in the radial direction. Therefore,during assembly of the lens drive device 1 and, when an electric currentis not supplied to the first coil 31 and the second coil 32, a magneticthrust force is not applied to the movable body 3 and thus the sleeve 13is located on the imaging element side. However, in this embodiment,since the protruded parts 136 a, 136 b, 136 c and 136 d are abutted withthe protruded parts 197, the movable body 3 (sleeve 13) is in a slightlyfloated state from the holder 19. Therefore, in a case that the yokeconnecting terminal part 127 and the protruded part 188 of the yoke 18are soldered with each other, even when flux enters into the inside inthe radial direction, the flux does not adhere to the lower end face ofthe sleeve 13. Further, the flux does not adhere so as to extend overthe movable body 3 and the holder 19. In addition, the flux does notadhere to the arm part 145 of the first spring member 14 x. Therefore,movement of the movable body 3 and normal deformation of the arm part145 of the first spring member 14 x are prevented from being disturbedby adhesion of the flux.

In other words, as shown in FIG. 7( b), since the power supply terminals12 x and 12 y are required to be connected with the first spring member14 x, the power supply terminals 12 x and 12 y and the movable body 3are sufficiently separated from each other. In addition, as shown inFIG. 7( a), although the ground terminal 12 z is disposed in thevicinity of the movable body 3, flux is prevented from adhering to themovable body 3 and the spring portion of the first spring member 14 x bythe protruded parts 197.

As described above, in this embodiment, the ground terminal 12 z isformed of a structural member which is different from a shield member ora spring member. Therefore, the ground terminal is capable of being usedwhich is superior in characteristic as a terminal such as a sufficientmechanical strength without affected by material, thickness or the likeof the yoke 18 (shield member) and the first spring member 14 x.Further, the ground terminal 12 z is drawn outside in the state that theground terminal support part 195 a, which is the bottom part of therecessed part 195 formed in the holder 19, supports the ground terminal12 z in a face to face manner. Therefore, the ground terminal 12 z canbe held by the fixed body in a stable state and soldering can beperformed easily. In addition, the holder 19 and the yoke 18 aredirectly abutted with each other except the portion where the groundterminal 12 z is disposed. However, the gap space “G22” is formedbetween the object side face of the ground terminal 12 z and the imagingelement side end part 187 of the yoke 18 and thus the ground terminal 12z does not cause between the abutting portions of the holder 19 with theyoke 18 to occur an unnecessary gap space. Therefore, even when the yoke18 is superposed on the holder 19 with the holder 19 as a reference, theentire size of the lens drive device 1 is not affected.

Further, similarly to the ground terminal 12 z, the power supplyterminals 12 x and 12 y are formed of a structural member which isdifferent from the shield member or the spring member. Therefore, thepower supply terminals 12 x and 12 y which are superior incharacteristic as a terminal such as a sufficient mechanical strengthcan be secured without affected by material, thickness or the like ofthe first spring member 14 x.

Further, the ground terminal support part 195 a is the bottom part ofthe recessed part 195 which is deeper than a thickness dimension of theground terminal 12 z. Therefore, even when the imaging element side endpart 187 of the side plate part 183 of the yoke 18 is not formed in acomplicated shape, the gap space “G22” can be formed between the objectside face of the ground terminal 12 z and the imaging element side endpart 187 of the yoke 18.

In the embodiment described above, the power supply terminals 12 x and12 y are disposed at positions in the side plate part 181 of the yoke 18and the ground terminal 12 z is disposed at a position in the side platepart 183 of the yoke 18. However, arrangement positions of the powersupply terminals 12 x and 12 y and the ground terminal 12 z are notlimited to this embodiment and they may be arranged at any position.

FIG. 8 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a lens drive device inaccordance with an embodiment of the present invention which is cut at aposition passing through its diagonal line. In FIG. 8, in the lens drivedevice 1 in this embodiment, the movable body 3 is normally located onthe imaging element side (image side). In this state, when an electriccurrent is supplied to the first coil 31 and the second coil 32 in apredetermined direction, an upward (front side) electro-magnetic forceis applied to the first coil 31 and the second coil 32 respectively.Therefore, the sleeve 13 to which the first coil 31 and the second coil32 are fixed begins to move toward the object side (front side/directionshown by the arrow “A”). In this case, elastic forces which restrictmovement of the sleeve 13 are respectively occurred between the secondspring member 14 y and the front end of the sleeve 13 and between thefirst spring member 14 x and the rear end of the sleeve 13. Therefore,the sleeve 13 stops when the electro-magnetic force for moving thesleeve 13 toward the front side and the elastic force for restrictingthe movement of the sleeve 13 are balanced with each other. In thiscase, when an amount of the electric current supplied to the first coil31 and the second coil 32 is adjusted according to the elastic forceacting on the sleeve 13 by the first spring member 14 x and the secondspring member 14 y, the sleeve 13 (movable body 3) can be stopped at adesired position.

In this embodiment, a flat spring (gimbal spring), which is providedwith a linear relationship between an elastic force (stress) anddisplacement amount (distortion amount), is used as the first springmember 14 x and the second spring member 14 y. Therefore, linearitybetween a moving amount of the sleeve 13 and an electric currentsupplied to the first coil 31 and the second coil 32 can be improved.Further, two spring members comprised of the first spring member 14 xand the second spring member 14 y are used and thus, when the sleeve 13is stopped, large balanced forces are applied in the optical axisdirection. Therefore, even when a centrifugal force, an impact force orthe like is acted in the optical axis direction, the sleeve 13 can bestopped further stably. In addition, in order to stop the sleeve 13 inthe lens drive device 1, instead of making the sleeve 13 collide with acollided member (buffer material), in this embodiment, the sleeve 13 isstopped by utilizing the balance of the electro-magnetic force and theelastic force and thus a collision noise can be prevented.

FIG. 9( a) is a plan view showing a yoke in the lens drive device 1 inaccordance with an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 9( b) is aplan view showing the sleeve 13 which is used in the movable body 3, andFIG. 9( c) is a plan view showing a positional relationship between thelight transmission opening 180 of the yoke 18 and the sleeve 13. FIG.10( a) is a longitudinal sectional view schematically showing a statewhere the movable body 3 is located at a reference position in the lensdrive device 1 in accordance with an embodiment of the presentinvention, FIG. 10( b) is a longitudinal sectional view schematicallyshowing a state where the movable body 3 is shifted in a directionopposite to an inclined direction in a posture that the movable body 3has been inclined, and FIG. 10( c) is a longitudinal sectional viewschematically showing a state where the movable body 3 is shifted in thesame direction as the inclined direction in the posture that the movablebody 3 has been inclined.

The lens drive device 1 in this embodiment uses the magnetic drivemechanism 5 for driving the movable body 3 and the fixed body 2 and themovable body 3 are connected with each other by using the first springmember 14 x and the second spring member 14 y. Therefore, when anexternal force such as impact is applied to the movable body 3 to causeit to shift in the optical axis direction “L” (thrust direction) or inthe radial direction, the first spring member 14 x and the second springmember 14 y may be largely deformed to occur plastic deformation.

In order to prevent this problem, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG.7( a) and FIG. 10( a), a stopper mechanism 1 a in the thrust directionfor restricting a moving range of the movable body 3 toward the objectside is structured between the fixed body 2 and the movable body 3. Inother words, in this embodiment, a cylindrical part 135 on the objectside of the sleeve 13 (thrust movement preventing abutting part) isfurther more protruded on the object side than the second spring member14 y and, as shown in FIGS. 9( a), 9(b) and 9(c) and FIG. 10( a), anouter diameter dimension “D1” of the cylindrical part 135 is set to besufficiently larger than an inner diameter “D2” of the lighttransmission opening 180, which is formed in the top plate part 185 ofthe yoke 18. Therefore, a sufficiently large over-lapping portion “C10”is formed between the top plate part 185 of the yoke 18 and thecylindrical part 135 of the sleeve 13. Accordingly, when the movablebody 3 is shifted toward the object side due to an impact, the tip endpart of the cylindrical part 135 of the sleeve 13 is abutted with aportion surrounding the light transmission opening 180 (thrust movementpreventing abutted part) of the top plate part 185. Therefore, furthermore displacement in the thrust direction of the movable body 3 isprevented. In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention,the cylindrical part 135 is not required to be a complete cylindricalpart in the circumferential direction and it may be provided with somecut-out parts in the circumferential direction.

Further, the moving range toward the imaging element side of the movablebody 3 is restricted by a thrust direction stopper mechanism 1 c whichis structured of protruded parts 197 (thrust movement preventing abuttedpart) formed in the holder 19 and the protruded parts 136 a, 136 b, 136c and 136 d (thrust movement preventing abutting part) of the movablebody 3 (sleeve 13).

Further, as shown in FIG. 7( a) and FIG. 10( a), a radial directionstopper mechanism 1 b is structured between the fixed body 2 and themovable body 3 for restricting a moving range in the radial direction ofthe movable body 3. In this embodiment, the radial direction stoppermechanism 1 b is structured at two positions separated in the thrustdirection from each other.

In order to structure the radial direction stopper mechanism 1 b, inthis embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 3( a) and 3(b), FIG. 7( a) and FIG.10( a), abutting of the protruded parts 136 a, 136 b, 136 c and 136 d(radial movement preventing abutting part) and the protruded parts 137a, 137 b, 137 c and 137 d (radial movement preventing abutting part),which are formed on the outer peripheral face of the sleeve 13, with theside plate parts 181, 182, 183 and 184 (radial movement preventingabutted part) of the yoke 18 is utilized. In other words, the protrudedparts 136 a, 136 b, 136 c and 136 d and the protruded parts 137 a, 137b, 137 c and 137 d are respectively located between the adjacent magnets17 and face the side plate parts 181, 182, 183 and 184 (radial movementpreventing abutted part) of the yoke 18 in the radial direction.Therefore, when the movable body 3 is displaced in the radial directiondue to an impact, the protruded parts 136 a, 136 b, 136 c and 136 d andthe protruded parts 137 a, 137 b, 137 c and 137 d of the sleeve 13 areabutted with the side plate parts 181, 182, 183 and 184 of the yoke 18.Accordingly, further displacement in the radial direction of the movablebody 3 is prevented. In this radial direction stopper mechanism 1 b, theside plate parts 181, 182, 183 and 184 of the yoke 18 are utilized asthe radial movement preventing abutted part and thus the moving range inthe radial direction of the movable body 3 can be restricted in the allrange in the thrust direction of the movable body 3.

Further, the protruded parts 136 a, 136 b, 136 c and 136 d are locatedbetween the column-shaped protruded parts 196 of the holder 19 and theprotruded parts 137 a, 137 b, 137 c and 137 d are respectively locatedbetween the adjacent magnets 17. Therefore, a radial direction stoppermechanism 1 d is also structured by utilizing the protruded parts 136 a,136 b, 136 c and 136 d, the protruded parts 137 a, 137 b, 137 c and 137d, the magnets 17 and the column-shaped protruded parts 196. In otherwords, when the movable body 3 is going to turn around the optical axisdue to an impact, the turning is prevented by means of that theprotruded parts 136 a, 136 b, 136 c and 136 d and the protruded parts137 a, 137 b, 137 c and 137 d are abutted with the side faces of themagnets 17 and/or the column-shaped protruded parts 196. In the radialdirection stopper mechanism 1 d, the magnets 17 and the column-shapedprotruded parts 196 of the holder 19 having a sufficient dimension inthe thrust direction are utilized as the radial movement preventingabutted part. Therefore, the moving range in the radial direction of themovable body 3 can be restricted in the all range in the thrustdirection of the movable body 3.

In this embodiment, the protruded part 138 is formed at the object sideend part of the sleeve 13 over the entire circumference on the outerperipheral face of the sleeve 13. However, a projecting dimension of theprotruded part 138 is set to be smaller in comparison with otherprotruded parts 136 a, 136 b, 136 c and 136 d and the protruded parts137 a, 137 b, 137 c and 137 d. Therefore, the protruded part 138 is notprovided with a function restricting the moving range of the movablebody 3 in the radial direction but is provided with only a functionstructuring the winding part of the second coil 32.

In this embodiment, the thrust direction stopper mechanisms 1 a and 1 cand the radial direction stopper mechanisms 1 b and 1 d are respectivelystructured to form over the entire circumference continuously or to formin plural portions in the circumferential direction. In other words, asshown in FIG. 1( a), the top plate part 185 of the yoke 18 is formedwith the cut-out parts 180 a and 180 b at an outer circumferential edgeof the light transmission opening 180. However, the light transmissionopening 180 is formed in a substantially circular shape and thecylindrical part 135 of the sleeve 13 is also in a circular shape.Therefore, the thrust direction stopper mechanism 1 a toward the objectto be photographed side is continuously formed over the entirecircumference. However, in accordance with an embodiment of the presentinvention, the thrust direction stopper mechanism 1 a may be formed withsome cut-out portions in the circumferential direction when the thrustdirection stopper mechanism 1 a is generally formed over the entirecircumference.

Further, the radial direction stopper mechanism 1 b, the thrustdirection stopper mechanism 1 c toward the imaging element side and theradial direction stopper mechanism 1 d are respectively formed at fourplaces in the circumferential direction.

Therefore, as shown in FIGS. 10( b) and 10(c), the moving range in theradial direction of the movable body 3 in an inclined posture to theoptical axis is restricted over all directions by the thrust directionstopper mechanisms 1 a and 1 c and the radial direction stoppermechanisms 1 b and 1 d.

First, as shown in FIGS. 10( b) and 10(c), for example, the movable body3 is assumed to have inclined toward the side plate part 181 of the yoke18 due to an impact. When the inclination occurs, the cylindrical part135 of the sleeve 13 is abutted with the top plate part 185 of the yoke18, and the protruded part 136 a of the sleeve 13 is abutted with theprotruded part 197 formed in the holder 19. Therefore, furtherinclination of the movable body 3 is prevented.

Next, in the state where the movable body 3 has been inclined toward theside plate part 181, the movable body 3 is assumed to parallel-movetoward the side plate part 183 of the yoke 18 on the opposite side tothe side plate part 181 as shown in FIG. 10( b). When this displacementoccurs, the protruded part 136 c is abutted with the side plate part 183in the radial direction stopper mechanism 1 b arranged on the imagingelement side and thus further displacement is prevented. Further, evenwhen displacement in the radial direction occurs, the cylindrical part135 of the sleeve 13 is abutted with the top plate part 185 of the yoke18 through the over-lapping C11, and the protruded part 136 a of thesleeve 13 maintains the abutted state with the protruded part 197 thatis formed in the holder 19. In this embodiment, in the state where themovable body 3 has been inclined toward the side plate part 181, whenthe movable body 3 is parallel-moved toward the side plate part 183 asshown in FIG. 10( b), this displacement may be restricted by theprotruded part 136 b and the column-shaped protruded part 196 which arestructured as the radial direction stopper mechanism 1 d.

On the contrary, in the state where the movable body 3 has been inclinedtoward the side plate part 181, the movable body 3 is assumed toparallel-move toward the side plate part 181 as shown in FIG. 10( c).When this displacement occurs, the protruded part 137 a arranged on theimaging element side of the radial direction stopper mechanism 1 b isabutted with the side plate part 181 and thus further displacement isprevented. Further, even when displacement in the radial directionoccurs, the cylindrical part 135 of the sleeve 13 is abutted with thetop plate part 185 of the yoke 18 through the over-lapping C12, and theprotruded part 136 a of the sleeve 13 maintains the abutted state withthe protruded part 197 that is formed in the holder 19. In thisembodiment, in the state where the movable body 3 has been inclinedtoward the side plate part 181, when the movable body 3 isparallel-moved toward the side plate part 181 as shown in FIG. 10( c),this displacement may be restricted by the protruded part 136 b and thecolumn-shaped protruded part 196 which are structured as the radialdirection stopper mechanism 1 d.

As described above, in the lens drive device 1 in this embodiment, thethrust direction stopper mechanisms 1 a and 1 c and the radial directionstopper mechanisms 1 b and 1 d are respectively provided with astructure continuously formed over the entire circumference or astructure formed at plural positions in the circumferential direction.Therefore, even when the movable body 3 is shifted in any radialdirection due to an impact from the outside with an obliquely inclinedstate of the movable body 3 in a certain direction, the first springmember 14 x and the second spring member 14 y are not deformed largely.Accordingly, the first spring member 14 x and the second spring member14 y can be surely prevented from occurring plastic deformation.Further, even when the movable body 3 is shifted in the radial directionwith an obliquely inclined state, the object side end part of themovable body 3 can be surely prevented from being caught by the lighttransmission opening 180 formed in the top plate part 185.

Further, the radial direction stopper mechanisms 1 b and 1 d function inall moving ranges in the thrust direction of the movable body 3.Therefore, even when the movable body 3 is shifted in the radialdirection with a posture inclined to the optical axis at any position ofthe movable body 3 in the thrust direction, the moving range isrestricted.

In addition, the radial movement preventing abutting part (protrudedparts 136 a, 136 b, 136 c and 136 d and protruded parts 137 a, 137 b,137 c and 137 d) of the radial direction stopper mechanisms 1 b and 1 dare formed of two sets which are separated from each other in theoptical axis direction “L”. Therefore, as described with reference toFIGS. 10( b) and 10(c), in a posture that the movable body 3 is inclinedto one side with respect to the optical axis, even when the movable body3 is radially shifted in the inclined direction or on the opposite side,its moving range can be restricted surely.

While the description above refers to particular embodiments of thepresent invention, it will be understood that many modifications may bemade without departing from the spirit thereof. The accompanying claimsare intended to cover such modifications as would fall within the truescope and spirit of the present invention.

The presently disclosed embodiments are therefore to be considered inall respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of theinvention being indicated by the appended claims, rather than theforegoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning andrange of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embracedtherein.

1. A lens drive device comprising: a fixed body; a movable body whichincludes a lens; a magnetic drive mechanism which includes a magnetdisposed on the fixed body and a coil disposed on the movable body formagnetically driving the movable body in a lens optical axis direction;a spring member which connects the movable body with the fixed body; athrust direction stopper mechanism which includes a thrust movementpreventing abutting part of the movable body and a thrust movementpreventing abutted part of the fixed body between the movable body andthe fixed body for restricting a moving range toward an object to bephotographed side of the movable body by abutting of the thrust movementpreventing abutting part with the thrust movement preventing abuttedpart; and a radial direction stopper mechanism which includes a radialmovement preventing abutting part of the movable body and a radialmovement preventing abutted part of the fixed body between the movablebody and the fixed body for restricting a moving range in a radialdirection of the movable body by abutting of the radial movementpreventing abutting part with the radial movement preventing abuttedpart; wherein the fixed body is provided with a top plate part forcovering the movable body on the object to be photographed side and thetop plate part is formed with a light transmission opening through whichlight is incident to the lens; wherein the thrust direction stoppermechanism and the radial direction stopper mechanism are provided withone of a structure continuously formed along an entire circumference anda structure formed at plural places in a circumferential direction; andthe moving range in the radial direction under an inclined posture ofthe movable body with respect to an optic axis is restricted over alldirections by the radial direction stopper mechanism and the thrustdirection stopper mechanism.
 2. The lens drive device according to claim1, wherein the radial movement preventing abutted part is provided witha dimension in which the radial movement preventing abutting part iscapable of abutting with the radial movement preventing abutted partover all moving range in a thrust direction of the movable body.
 3. Thelens drive device according to claim 2, wherein the fixed body includesa base which is disposed on an imaging element side end part; the baseis provided with four or more radial movement preventing abutted partsformed of a protruded part which is protruded toward the object to bephotographed side in the circumferential direction; and the radialmovement preventing abutted part is provided with a protruding dimensionin which the radial movement preventing abutting part is capable ofabutting with the radial movement preventing abutted part over all themoving range in the thrust direction of the movable body.
 4. The lensdrive device according to claim 3, wherein the thrust movementpreventing abutting part is formed on an object side end face of themovable body in a circular or substantially circular shape having alarger diameter than the light transmission opening when viewed from theobject side, and the thrust movement preventing abutted part is formedof a portion surrounding the light transmission opening in the top platepart.
 5. The lens drive device according to claim 4, wherein the springmember is provided with a fixed body side connecting part which is heldby the fixed body, a movable body side connecting part which is formedin a ring shape and connected with the movable body, and an arm partwhich connects the movable body side connecting part with the fixed bodyside connecting part, and the thrust movement preventing abutting partis disposed at an object side position with respect to the spring memberin a circular or substantially circular shape having a smaller outerdiameter dimension than an inner diameter dimension of the movable bodyside connecting part of the spring member.
 6. The lens drive deviceaccording to claim 5, wherein the radial movement preventing abuttingpart is formed at plural separated positions in the optical axisdirection.
 7. The lens drive device according to claim 6, wherein tworadial movement preventing abutting parts which are adjacent to eachother in the optical axis direction are protruded in the radialdirection from the movable body to structure a winding part of the coilon an outer peripheral face of the movable body.
 8. The lens drivedevice according to claim 1, wherein the thrust movement preventingabutting part is provided on an object side end face of the movable bodyin a circular or substantially circular shape having a larger diameterthan the light transmission opening when viewed from the object side,and the thrust movement preventing abutted part is formed of a portionsurrounding the light transmission opening in the top plate part.
 9. Thelens drive device according to claim 8, wherein the spring member isprovided with a fixed body side connecting part which is held by thefixed body, a movable body side connecting part which is formed in aring shape and connected with the movable body, and an arm part whichconnects the movable body side connecting part with the fixed body sideconnecting part, and the thrust movement preventing abutting part isdisposed at an object side position with respect to the spring member ina circular or substantially circular shape having a smaller outerdiameter dimension than an inner diameter dimension of the movable bodyside connecting part of the spring member.
 10. The lens drive deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein the radial movement preventing abuttingpart is formed at plural separated positions in the optical axisdirection.
 11. The lens drive device according to claim 10, wherein tworadial movement preventing abutting parts which are adjacent to eachother in the optical axis direction are protruded in the radialdirection from the movable body to structure a winding part of the coilon an outer peripheral face of the movable body.
 12. The lens drivedevice according to claim 1, wherein the fixed body includes a basewhich is disposed on an imaging element side end part and a yoke whichis fitted on the object side of the base, and the radial movementpreventing abutted part is formed by the yoke.
 13. The lens drive deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein the fixed body includes a base which isdisposed on an imaging element side end part and a yoke which is fittedon the object to be photographed side of the base, the movable bodyincludes a sleeve formed in a cylindrical shape, the coil of themagnetic drive mechanism is wound around an outer peripheral face of thesleeve, the magnet is comprised of four magnets which face the outerperipheral face of the coil, the yoke is formed in a substantiallyrectangular parallelepiped shape and provided with the top plate partand side plate parts, the four magnets are fixed to four corner portionsof an inner peripheral face of the side plate parts of the yoke in aseparated state in a circumferential direction, and the radial movementpreventing abutting part is a protruded part which is protruded in aradial direction from the outer peripheral face of the sleeve tostructure a winding part of the coil.
 14. The lens drive deviceaccording to claim 13, wherein the coil is comprised of a first coil anda second coil which are dividedly wound around in an optical axisdirection, and a plurality of radial movement preventing abutting partsis structured at separated positions in the optical axis direction bymeans of that the protruded parts are formed to structure winding partsof the first coil and the second coil.
 15. The lens drive deviceaccording to claim 13, wherein the protruded part which structures thewinding part of the coil is located between the magnets fixed to thefour corner portions of the yoke in the separated state in thecircumferential direction and, when the sleeve is displaced in theradial direction, displacement in the radial direction of the sleeve isrestricted by abutting of the protruded part structuring the windingpart of the coil with the side plate part of the yoke.
 16. The lensdrive device according to claim 15, wherein the thrust movementpreventing abutting part is provided on an object side end face of thesleeve in a circular or substantially circular shape having a largerdiameter than the light transmission opening when viewed from the objectside, and the thrust movement preventing abutted part is formed of aportion surrounding the light transmission opening in the top platepart.
 17. The lens drive device according to claim 16, wherein an outerperipheral face of an end part on an imaging element side of the sleeveis formed with a protruded part structuring the winding part of the coilso as to face the side plate parts of the yoke, the base is providedwith the radial movement preventing abutted parts formed of a protrudedpart which is protruded toward the object to be photographed side so asto be capable of abutting with the protruded part structuring thewinding part of the coil in the circumferential direction; and theradial movement preventing abutted part is provided with a protrudingdimension in which the radial movement preventing abutting part iscapable of abutting with the radial movement preventing abutted partover all the moving range in the thrust direction of the sleeve.